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In American history, one Congressman was re-elected from jail

In American history, one Congressman was re-elected from jail

In American history, one Congressman was re-elected from jailIn American history, one Congressman was re-elected from jailIn American history, one Congressman was re-elected from jail

Immigrant

Orphan

Soldier

Statesman

Founder of Fairhaven, Vt. 

Publisher of

The Scourge of Aristocracy


The Lyon of Vermont

The public are here presented Matthew Lyon's musical entitled: Spit'n Lyon, an unsung soldier's song

Nature has left this tincture in the blood, 

that all men would be tyrants if they could;    

if they forbear their neighbors to devour, 

tis not for want of will,

 but want of power.-  


-De-Foe. Jure Divino.

Purchase Spit'n Lyon, an Unsung Soldiers Song:

For a Digital copy click here

itunes: here

CD click here

Females of History

Matthew's mother says goodbye. They never see each other again


Mrs. Lyon Portrayed by Cat Davis 

Who Am I?

Young Matthew heads to the 'Hampshire Grants.'  Duet with mother, not but a memory.

Hold My Tea

Triangulation of power. 

Haldimand Intrugue.

King George portrayed by Greg Goldman

Lyon portrayed by John Daly

Sam portrayed by Tellamusic

Co-Equal Branches

Lyon's first speech to congress was to refuse to attend to President Adams in an obsequious manner.  President Adams expected  to be greeted on bended knee... like a king. 


Griswold Portrayed by Kevin Shima 

President Adams Portrayed by MiltonBusker

Alien & Sedition Acts

Congressman Lyon is shackled as President Adams signs the unconstitutional Alien & Sedition Acts.


President Adams portrayed by 

Milton Busker miltonbusker.com


Perhaps the Gentlemen

Lyon's second wife, Beulah Chittenden campaigns while Matthew is in jail.


Beulah Lyon Portrayed by Tella 

Tellamusic.com

Ivory Tower

Lyon, in jail, still defiant 

Freedom is the Child

pregnant Lady Justice, sings democratic ideals. 


Lady Justice portrayed by: Sandra Wesley

Marshall Fitch

Senator Mason arrives to attempt to pay Lyon's bail. 

Senator Mason portrayed by John Daly

Marshall Fitch portrayed by Greg Goldman

Beulah Lyon portrayed by Tellamusic


Lorraine

Ethan Allen leaves this world. Dying in the arms of his niece, Lorraine.

Allen Portayed by Andy Goodman

This Might Not Work

Election of 1800, in which Lyon casts the tie-breaking vote for Jefferson

Who was the Lyon of Vermont?

History

Matthew Lyons Jail Cell, Jail cell Vergennes vermont, green street vergennes,

Imprisoned for violating the Alien Sedition act; which gave President Adams the right to bar or expel immigrants and incarcerate those who published against the administration

Repeats

Matthew Lyon jail cell, Lyon's jail cell, uvm archive

Lyon's letter published accuses Adams of needing 'foolish adulation' and 'ridiculous pomp'  

Four Months in in jail, Oct-Feb. 

Re-elected by a 2-1 margin. A parade 12 miles long follows the Lyon of Vermont to Philidelphia.


Forgotten

alley in Vergennes vermont, green street vergennes vermont

"One who deserved a monument, and had it in the hearts of every true man, and who stood up... against power and corruption, yet this man was entitled to no thanks from those who came after him..."

-Waddy Thompson 

Immigrant, Orphan, Soldier, Stateman

Born in county Wicklow, Ireland 1750, Matthew Lyon emigrated to the New World a teenage orphan and was sold into indentured servitude in CT. After working and bartering for his freedom, Lyon moved to the Hampshire Grants with Ethan Allen & Mary Hosford.  ​​Enlisting as a Private, he served in all the major local Revolutionary War battles including Ticonderoga, Montgomery’s army and Saratoga. Through the course of his honorable service he was promoted to Adjunct Paymaster to General Seth Warner.

Founder of Fairhaven Vermont, publisher of the Scourge of Aristocracy, Congressman Matthew Lyon was imprisoned for violating the Alien Sedition act; which had given the President unconstitutional authority to expel or refuse immigrants and imprison those who published against the administration. Lyon won re-election, by a 2 to 1 margin, while serving a four month jail sentence in Vergennes Vermont. 

Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Mason, Apollo Austin,  the Green Mountain Boys, and the citizens in town ALL tried to pay his $1,060.96 bail but Lyon and his 2nd wife Beulah refused the money.

 The ‘Lyon of Vermont’ effectively ended the Federalist Party when casting the tie-breaking vote for President Jefferson during the election of 1800, which had gone to the Congress after the electoral college failed.

The Album Arc

Act 1.

from birth to congress

We Begin

Thomas Rowley, Bard of the Green Mountain Boys, plays an antique pump organ. He is joined by a modern band.

Ireland 1750

Born in county Wicklow, Ireland, 1749, young Matthew may have witnessed his father's execution.

Females of History

Matthew's mother sends her 12 year-old son to the new world, never to see him again.

Sold for Sweat

Matthew is sold into indentured servitude in CT. His neighbor is Jeffrey Brace (The Blind African Slave).

Who am I?

Young orphan Lyon travels to Vermont with Ethan Allen. Duet with his mother, now but a memory.

The King Owns This Tree

Colonial real estate was rather one sided. His Royal Highness owned all trees suitable for constructing his Armada.

Tea Time in Beantown

The Revolutionary War. The King consults his council, while riots occur in Boston.

Catamount

In the Catamount Tavern the Green Mountain Boys toast to democratic ideals; worth fighting and dying for. 

Hold My Tea

Triangulation of power. King George and young "Uncle" Sam parlay with Vermont for statehood recognition.

Carrion Crow

Lyon returns to the fields of battle to collect metal, melts swords to plowshares.

Porcupine Press

Yellow press/fake news from William Cobbett, aka Peter Porcupine. Accusations of the "wooden sword."

Rags

The Scourge of Aristocracy, rag shortage, advent of 'pulp based paper' to refute Adams

Here Come the Lawyers

Finally gaining statehood, Vermont contends with an influx of flat-landers. 

Mary

Matthew's first wife, Mary Hosford, passes away. She has a dying wish. 

Co-equal Branches

Lyon's first speech to congress was to refuse to attend Adams in an obsequious manner.

Six Months

On the floor of Congress, Lyon chastises Griswold, claiming Federalists are lying to their constituents.

Wooden Sword

Griswold taunts Lyon. Lyon tries to ignore him.  Lyon spits in Griswold's face. Griswold attacks with hickory cane.

Act 2.

from congress to jail and back again

Alien & Sedition Acts

Lyrics nearly verbatim the actual sedition law. Lyon, a sitting congressman, is imprisoned.

Perhaps the Gentlemen

Lyon's 2nd wife Beulah campaigns while Lyon is in jail. Two colonial guards accompany her.

Ivory Tower

Lyon defiant from jail.

Who Am I (Reprise)

Lyon, still imprisoned, is a broken man.

Freedom is the Child

Lady Justice pregnant with Freedom.  

Marshall Fitch

Senator Mason of Virginia arrives in Vergennes to try and pay Lyon's bail.

Cavalcade

Matthew hears his supporters outside his cell. 

The Release

The Parade leaves Vergennes Vt to Philadelphia. 

Tree of Democracy

Democracy takes root on route to Philadelphia 

Lorraine

In the last year of his life, Ethan Allen mourns the loss of his daughter Lorraine, in the company of Lyon's daughter Lorraine. 

Dream of Democracy

Lyon reaches Philadelphia with a renewed sense of purpose

Gotta Kettle?

American forges come on line. The seeds of the industrial revolution are sown.

This Might Not Work

Election of 1800. Lyon casts tie-breaking vote for Thomas Jefferson, then leaves Vermont.

Epilogue (Double-Edged Wooden Sword)

Onto the battlefield with iron word and wooden sword.

"...the greater the villainy to be exculpated from, the greater the fee." M. Lyon